Tray.



. Y'/ l j l No.. 782.544. PATBNTED PEB: 14V1V90 5.

R. J. CARRIER.

TRAY. l APPLICATION FILED DEJZV'I, *1903.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET' 1.

Nrrnp SPECIFICATION 'forming part o f Letters Patent No. 782,544, .dated February14, '1905.

jpplication filed December 21. 1903. Serial No. 185960,

T0 all whom Ait may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY J. CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of-the village ofHinsdale, in the county of D upage' and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description thereof, reference be-` ing' had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencelma'rlked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Thisinventionrelates to improvements intrays made of paper or other iexible sheet material and provided with a dat bottom wall and usually with a surrounding or circumferential rim of wall.

The device herein illustrated ,is especially1 applicable for use as traysinpacking merichandise in pails or' other receptacles, and when usedin this manner the trays are placed in the receptacle one over the other and may be iilled either before or after they are placed in the receptacle, the trays thus serving as horizontal separators or partitions by which the'layers of material contained in the trays are separately supported.

The -tray herein shown as embodyingmy invention is made of a single piece of sheet material and comprises a iiat bottom wall, preferably surrounded by a circumferential rim formed by turning upwardly the margin of said wall, and aplurality of radial partitions extending from theouter marginal' part to the center of the tray and made. integral with the material constituting the bottom wall of the tray, said partitions being formed by folding parts of the material of said bottom wall upwardly along radial lines. 'So far as is concernedthe'form'ation of the radial partitions the' circumferential wall may be varied in its form and may in'some instances be omitted'. ,A device embodying the same features ofconstruction may, however', be

' used for other purposes, as'will hereinafter morefully appear. rlihis invention consists in the matters herey inafter set forth,and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In thedrawings, Figure l is a plan view of ab'lank from* which my improved tray is'made,

showing the same after it has been cut andV mentary perspective views of the central part of a modified form of the device. Fig/7 is a bottom of the folded blank shown in Fig; 3 drawn in a reducedor smaller scale. Fig..8 is a perspective View, partially in section, of

the radial overlapping or telescoping V.partitions when folded.

As shown in said drawings, A, Fig. 1, indicates a blankin fiat form from which my improved tray is made. Said blank is of a contourapproximating a circle, as herein shown,

vbut will of curse be varied to correspond with diferent-sh'aped trays, and is provided with two sets. of scorelines a, and a', three parallel lines in each set, the lines of each set extendingl across the blank in one direction and intersecting the lines of the other set at the center of the blank. Between the central score-lines a' of each set and the side scorelines a' thereof are formed'two parallel strips 7 or sections A A', the parts of which on each be folded upwardly about the side score-lines a from the main'body A.2 of the blank (which latter constitutes the bottom wall of the completed tray) to constitute double-thickness radial partitions extendingfrom the center to the circumference of the complete: tray. a a designatecu rved score-lines' which are parallelwith the outer margin of the blank and intersect at their ends the vouter radial scoreline a. The curved strips or sections A8, lying o utside of said curved score-lin es a2,are adapted to constitute the circumferential rim of the tray and are folded upwardly about the curved score-lines a2 from the bottom wall'A2, as

more clearly seen in Fig. 3.. Said curved sections or strips A3 are radiallyslitted in orderv to facilitate the folding of the same upwardly, and the adjacent ends of the slitted portions overlap each other when they assume their I0 side of the center of the blank are adapted-to the two sets of parallel score-lines a' at the. vcenter of the blank is formed a rectan, 'ularv .shaped part or Isection which is divided by nished form, as clearly shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. At the intersection of two diagonal intersecting lines of incision' af into four triangular sections a4, the free points of vwhich triangular sections in eet at the center of the' blank, and the base portion of each of which is joined tothe inner' end of one oftheradialsections composed' o f two adjacent Y strips A', locatedbetween adjacent score-lines a' at one side'of the center of said blank. The triangular-shaped parts a* are bisected by the inner ends of the. central radial score-'lines a'. The said blank is cut and Ascored in the manner described and shown in Fig. l in a single operation of a suitable die or'forin. The devices for forming .the score-lines are so constructed and operate 1n such manneras to givethe parts a'tenden'cy to fold 'along said score-lines, v g

Whenatray is set up or formed from a blank cut and 'scored in the manner shownjin Fig. 1, the parts or sections at each side ofthe Ycenter of said blank between the radial scorelines a are foldedyupwardy from the' bottom wall A. about the said score-lines @"until the sections or parts' A' assume vertical positions and are brought atwise together in vertical contact, l,thereby constituting partitions of double thickness. When the parts are thus folded, the adjacent margins of adjoining sections A are folded along the central scorelines a, the partstravers'ed by said score-lines constituting the highest parts' of the partitions. Such 'foldingoperation is affected by grasping the blank on two'opposite sides of the center thereof and at each side of the parts or sectonsA contained between the score-n lines a' and pressing thesametogetherin 'a manner to shorten the diameter of.l the 'blankc partitions extending across-the blank in onel vin one direction, and such pressure causesthe radial` sections A' to risefand be -folded up-j Wardly from the bottoml'wall 'Afrand tobe pressed together in the manner described. thereby forming two oppositelyextendig direction. As the sectionsSA' are thusfolded upwardly toconstitute said oppositely '---extending partitions, the triangularpartsf'aat theinner ends thereof are also folded iatwise` I togetheralongf'the central bisecting scorelinestp, asclearlyshown in Fig. 2. The positi'onfoftheipartslfwhen the folded operation fhas'proceeded thus-.far is shown in Fig. 2'. At the time fthe said. twof oppositely-.extending -partitions are vbeingformed 'in the manner dev the triangular-shaped parts a4, belonging ton scribed and the diameter ofthe blank is being o.

thereby shortened ina direction at right anglesto the direction of the forming-partitions the inner ends of the partition-sections which extend in the direction of the shortened diameter ofthe blank, are caused to lap oneover the other, the inner pointed end of one ofsaid sections being raised above the. other and caused to slide over said other section during the time that the diameter of the blank is being thus' shortened, as clearly indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 2. After two oppositelyextending partitions have been thus folded and the triangularJ projections 'of the other partiscribed, thefsaid other. partition-sections may be folded fiatwise against each other by'press ing the hands together while still engaged with the blank, and thereby shortening the diameter-of the blank in the other direction. fore the last-mentioned partition sections are folded upwardly'the triangular parts a4, be-

longing to the sections first folded, are turned s idewise by the iingeror thumb, so as not to interfere with the rising ofthe parts a* bevlongin'gto the sections last folded. It will be understoodthat themanner*4 of folding the Y `partitions upwardlyfrom` the end wall of the tray need not necessarily take place inthe sequence described, but that the foldingof all the partitions may take plane practically simultaneouslyby properly app ied pressure which will shift the 4four triangular parts of tion-sections have been made to overlap, as dethe blank lying withjinrh'e angisbetwen the two sets of score-lines toward' the center of Vthe blank, as it is obvious that this is what -occurs whether it be sequentially or s irnultai neously accomplished. The sequential order of folding the' partitions has been described,

however, in'order to render more clear the essentialmovements of the parts when being folded. The triangular sections a* at the ends of the partition-sections A', which ride one over the other, as shown infull and dotted lines in Fig. 2, are folded only along the central score-lines a thereof ,in the Vdirection of the .length of -said partition, but the like triangular sections a* of the other partition are not only soefolded, but are again folded along lthe score-lines a at right angles to the parti;

`tion-sections to .which they belong and lie flat against s 'aid overlapping partitions. Said right-angle folded sections a may, if desired,

reason that when the trays areset and properly fitted in a' receptacle the. engagement of vthe circumferential rim of the tray with the Ioo l.be joined to the partitions against which they l lie by .an adhesive material or otherwise, but this will 'ordinarilyl not be necessary for the III by the other partitions which abut'ag'ains't f the overlapping parts of said partitions in alinement with each other and at right angles to suchove'rlapping partitions, and suclrlat-` eral support is suificient'to hold the overlap-,

ping partitions uprightlwithout the necessity` .of lattaching the outer ends of the overlapping partition to the annular rim of the tray.

If desired, the central triangular sections a4 at the center of the blank may be omitted, as indicated in Fig. 5, in which event the adjacent ends of the-partitions formed by the sections Amay be fastened together by means` of angle-pieces'A set in the angles-between adjacent partitions.- The partition-sections A may beseeure'd in any suitable manner at their outer ends vto the circumferential wall o r rim A3 of thev setj up tray. In the ordinary use of these trays in a receptacle wherein' the surrounding rim .pis confined engagement 'with` the inner` .2.o

'wall of thereceptacle I find that such, interlocking connections of the partitions, which overlap `each other at their inner ends and constitute, in effect, a continuous partition cxtending entirely across the tray. as before stated,W1th.the'rim.,are not. in Aall cases required, as the other partitions abutting'agai nst tions af of which are bent at right 'angles to- .the opposite sides of the'said overlapping partitions afford sufiicient rigidity as to hold the latter partitions 'in place and upright. .case of the partitions, the inner triangular seclie against the overlapping'partitions, it is `desirable to provide meansl for interlocking the sections into two triangular parts.

the outer ends-thereof Withthe circumferem adjacent margins of' saidpolygonal sections A and the outer margins there0f,'which constitute parts of the circumferential margins of the blank, are cut away, as indicated at a@ so as to prevent parts thereof j frompo'jec't-'f ing above the wall or'pa'rtition when the parts are set up. After the partitions have been formed vup Vin the manner liereinbefore described and while 'the curved sections A3 are being folded upwardly to constitute the rim of the tray said polygonal-.sections a5 are folded along the oblique lines c6 to constitute folded triangular sections, Which-latter may be folded either outside or inside of the annular rim, said sections being shown in F ig. 3 as folded outside the rim. interlockingconnection is afforded between the ends of said partitions'and the annular rim of the tray. As before stated, I vhave found In this manner an.

it unnecessary to so reinforce the outer ends of the partitions which overlap eachother at the center of the tray, and in this instance the partition-sections A' are* terminated in line with the curvedV score-lines a?. If desired, however-,the ends of the overlapping-parti-4 tion sections may also be interlocked with the annular* rim of the tray.. Obviously other means may be employed forinterlocking the partition-walls with the rink-as, for instance, said partitions maybe interlocked with therim by means of angle-pieces such as is shown in Figr.

` From the diameter of the blank is shortened in both diforegoing it vis apparent that the rections to constitute the final diameter of the tray and that such shortening of the diameter is 'accomplished by shifting the four triangular parts of the blankvto'ward the vcenter thereof, such shifting being made possible by reason of the cutting of the blank at the cen- .ter either to ,form the triangular par-ts a4, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, andv3, or by cutting the central portion of the blank-entirely away, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It will furthermore Ybe observed that in forming the blank the curvature ofthe score-lines a2, which define the margin of theset-up tray, is formed from' a center which is located at theintersection 'of the radial score-lines a and that said score ylines in the blank are not' parts ofk the same circle. In this mannen when the triangular sections of the blank are shifted inwardlyto form up the partitions in the manner described the center points of theseveral IOO curved score-lines a2 aremade toapproximately coincide, so that fthe margins of the. tray defined by said curved score-hues aA closely approximate a circle. lf the blank be originally made'of circular form, the scorelinesv c2 would not be concentric with the ccnl ter ofthe completed or formed-up tray, and such tray would inot therefore fill the complete circle of a pail or like receptacle'. When making a tray of other than circular form,'the contour of the blank will be correspondingly modified.

IIO

n .When the trays are used in tapered pails, they are made in sets of graduated diameters to correspond .with-the vgradually-increasing diameter of the pail. In placing' the trays 1n a receptacle the first ltray is placed upon the -bottom of the .'recep'tacle, the second upon the upper marginvof the irstv tray, tlie third occupying a similar position with respect to the second tray` and 4so on until -the receptacle is filled, and the .numberpf trays in a set depends upon the depth of the individual trays. In arranging the trays in the receptacle in the manner described it is an advantage to ar range the partitions of adjacent trays atan angle with respect' to each other, (indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 4,) wherein it is seen that the partitions'of the tray shown in' f tween the parti-tions of the subj'acent tray. YIn

thisfmanner the bottom wallof each tray between the partitions thereofis supported the partitions of the .subjacent trays. Itwill also be noted that the.center of the trays,Y which are reinforced by the connection of the inner ends of the partitionsfare located `one over the other, thereby constituting, in effect, at the center of the receptacle a'ontinuous column extending from the'top to thebottom of the assembled trays, which'adds-greatly to the strength of theassembled tray' structure.

By reason of the provision of thepartitions jextending radially fromthe center to the cir.-` 1 5;

cumfercnce of the tray' the' tray-is greatlystrengthened, and I amtherefore enabled'to `vlittle to the'eXpense of producing theftr'a, n

` x additional cost-being only representedfbylthee actual cost of the stock, no additional expense for labor being required to attachlt-he parti-. tions or form them onthe trays.^` An advan make trays of a given strength of .a m ch klighter stock than if the partitions were omitted. The manner in which the partitionsre formed is of great importance, as theyfaddibut he tage of forming the partitionsi'n the-tray end wall in the manner shown is that this construeA tion not only .gives great vertical and-lateral: rigggidityA to the tray, but whe'lthe traysL are" filled and the, receptacle containing the same.

is tipped -or tilted the lateralweight ofthe 4tray contents does not a'ct as a unit, against any:

part ofthe tray or traysor against the indi-'- fvidual articles of the said contents; bntsuch .weightisdivided into as many Aparts as there are separatecompartments of the traydue toY the pres'enc'eof the partitions, so that thecon- Vtentsof the tray is not 'so likely to' become crushed in the tray.' When the trays are used Yto contain soft merchandise, as chocolate or iced confections, the trays willbe mad'eof a depth to correspondrwithf the-depth of a single layer of the merchandise, so that notwithstandingtilting or vtipping of the receptacle l the articles of the several layers will not shift vout of position-and becrushed. Another iin-.

portant advantage of the constructiondescribed "is that the trays are capablevof being shipped and stored in fiat-or knockdown form, 1

so that but little storage' or transportation -space is requiredfor'a large'number of trays.

i Furthermore, in this manner I am enabled to partments.

is folded lie close to and. touch each other exeepting. vonly where the Small section of one of the partitions is telescoped or lapped under the diagonally-opposite partition; as shown at a. All ofthe partitions A are formed simultaneousl y by folding the blank along the scored lines a, and this act'of folding brings each sector-shaped sectionv closer together, as the two Sets of radial scored lines intersect. One set of twol triangular-shaped parts ai, those radially opposite each other, overlap ortelescope, while the other two are folded, pref'-v erably, in opposite directions, as shownin Fig. '3, and lie or abut against the respective partitions. This makes a very strong and durable partition well adapted to withstand `torsional as well/.as radial strain.

I claim asmy invention- 1. A tray provided'with a bottom a plurality `of radial partitions, each formed by.' foldingV upwardly' from said bottom wall -in'toVertical Contact two parallel, radial paryttionsectionswhich areseparated Jfrom each `other by score-lines and from the fiat bottom wall by other score-lines, and means for con- '.'necting theinner ends of the partitions in a *manner to supportyertically certain of the partitions. A

wall and A tray made-ofasingle piece of lsheet vmaterial comprising a bottom. wall and a plu rality 'of radial partitions, made integral with 'and folded upwardly from said bottom wall, `certain of the partitions supporting others at the inner ends thereof. r

'o 3. A'tray comprising a bottom wall,- a surrounding rim and a pluralityof radial partitions,whichareintegral with and folded upwardly, from the bottom wall, said partitions `.having ,interlocking connection with each other at vtheir innerfendsand interlocking connections between'the outer `ends of said partitions and saidrim.

4. A tray made-'of a single. piece of sheet material comprising a-bottom Wall surrounded by a rim and la plurality of radial parti- .tions made integral with and vfolded upwardly IOC lof

from1 the bottom'lwall of the tray, and connected ltothe rim and with each other in a mannerlto maintain the same vertical.

'6.' -A tray madev of-a single piece of sheet III material comprising a bottom wall and a pluo rality ofvdouble-.fthickness radial partitions made integral with and folded upwardly from the bottom wallot the tray, and means for connecting the innerends of the partitions in a manner to support certain of the partitions from the othrs. i i

6.- A tray made from a single piece of sheet materia comprisinga bottom wall, a rim folded upwardly from and surrounding said bottom wall, a plurality of radial parttionsfoldved upwardly from said bottom wall and means for'interloeking the outer ends of said partitions to said rim. I

7. A tray ofrsh'eet material comprising a bottom wall, and aplurality of radial partitions folded upwardly from saidrbottom wall,

two of the partitions which extendin one direction having overlapping engagement at their inner ends and the other partitions abutting against the opposite sides of the overlapping partitions.

8. A sheet-material tray provided with a plurality of double-thickness radial partitions which meet at the center ofthe tray and are ,folded upwardly from the bottom wall thereof.. two of the partitions which extend in the saine direction having telescopic engagement at their inner ends 4and the-other partitions abutting against' the 'opposite sides of the telescopic'parts of the lirst-iiientioiied partitions.

. 9. A` tray made of sheet material compris; ing a -bottom wall, anda plurality of radial paritiona two ot' said partitions ywhich exten in the same direction being provided at their inner ends with parts which have overlapping engagement and the other partitions being provided at their inner ends with fold? ed parts which lie against the opposite sides of the overlapping parts of the first-mcntioiiedpartitions. 10. AA tray made of sheet material comprising a bottom wallpa rim surrounding said walhand a plurality of radial partitions eX- tendi'ng inwardly from said rin., and formed by being folded upwardly. from said bottom wall, two of the partitions )vhich extend in one direction having overlapping engagement at their inner (ends, and the other partitions abutting against the opposite sides of'the overlapping partitions, the two last `mentioned partitions having connection at their outer ends with 'the rim...

11. A tray made of sheet material comprising a bottom wall, a rim surrounding said bottom wall, a plurality of radial partitions folded upwardly from said bottom'wall, cer tain of the partitions being joined to said rim by an interfolding connection.

12. A tray made from a single piece ot' sheet material comprising a bott-oni wall, a rim sui'- roundingsaid wall, and a plurality of radial partitions folded -upwardly from said bottom wall; certain ofthe partitions being grovidedv.

at their outer ends with parts which are integral with said rim, and which are folded to lie fiat against one of the integral parts, tov

wit, the partition or rim.

13. In a tray, the combination with a bottom wall, a rim which is folded upwardly therefrom and a part which is also folded upwardly from the bottoni wall at an'angle to the rim, of a section in the angle between the two upwardly-folded parts, said section being diagonally divided by a score-line upon which the section folds when the tray is set up, and the two parts of said section being adapted to parts. i

befolded atwise against oney of the integral 14. A blank of generally circ'ular form for a tray which `is divided into sector-'shaped parts by a plurality of sets of score-lines which intersect at the center of the blank, each set comprising three parallel score-lines, and each sector-shapedpart being provided. with a curvedscore-line which is inside of and parallel with the arc-line or outer curved mar- -gin of said sector-sl'iaped part.

A blank for a traydivided into a 'plurality of symmetrieally-arranged parts by a plurality ofsets of score-linges' which intersect centrally of the blank, each set comprising three parallel score-lines 'and the parts in the angle between the intersecting sets of scorelinesbeing provided inside their outer niarginsy with score-lines forming betweenvthe same and said outer margins a rim-section. I

16. A blank for a tray wh'icli is divided into sector-shaped parts by a plurality of sets of score-lines, each set'eompiising three parallel score-lines. the'central part of the blank.

' tion-sections.

18. A blank for a tray provided with a plurality of intersecting'sets of score-liiies u/ af. y the curved score-lines and the diagonal slits TOO or cuts a3 extending diagonallyracross the part of the blank bounded by the outer nones of the intersecting score-lines and forming the triangular parts 19. In a .blank for a tray, the sheet provided with a plurality of intersecting sets of score-lines L a forming'between the lines of each set the parallel partition-sections, the score-lines (a2 between which andY the margin ofthe blank is formed a rim-section, and the sections fin the rim-section and at -the endsof thepartition-sections, which are divided by the oblique score-lines d'.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix my signature, in'presence of two witnesses, this lth day of December,

` ROY J. CARRIER.

\Vitnesses: TAYLOR E.- BitowN, (rnirriiupn. Bieren. 

